AEROSPACE
Families demand Malaysia accept MH370 hunt offer
by Staff Writers
Kuala Lumpur (AFP) Aug 11, 2017


Relatives of passengers aboard missing flight MH370 Friday demanded Malaysia accept a US exploration firm's offer to take up the hunt for the aircraft, which was suspended earlier this year.

No trace of the Malaysia Airlines plane, which disappeared in March 2014 with 239 people on board, was found during a lengthy deep sea hunt in the southern Indian Ocean off western Australia, with the search called off in January.

Ocean Infinity, a seabed exploration firm with a fleet of advanced underwater search vehicles, confirmed last week it had offered to resume the hunt.

Malaysian authorities have said discussions are ongoing and the firm only wants payment if the aircraft is found.

Voice 370, an international group of MH370 next-of-kin, urged authorities to take up the offer, saying in a statement: "Why hasn't Malaysia accepted this win - win offer?"

The group said the offer was made more than four months ago and it should be accepted "without further delay", and urged authorities to provide them with details. Neither Ocean Infinity nor the Malaysian government have said when the proposal was made.

"We are constantly in limbo. They (authorities involved in the search) do not engage us. It is upsetting and frustrating," Grace Nathan, a Malaysian lawyer whose mother Anne Daisy was on the plane, told AFP.

"We are always kept in the dark."

Malaysian transport officials could not be reached for immediate comment Friday.

Malaysia's Deputy Transport Minister Aziz Kaprawi previously said the agreement of Australia and China would be needed for a deal to be reached. China, where most of the passengers came from, and Australia were both involved in the search.

Only three fragments of MH370 have been found on western Indian Ocean shores, including a two-metre wing part known as a flaperon.

Australia's national science body CSIRO said in April that MH370 was "most likely" lying north of the former search zone -- a 120,000 square kilometre (46,000 square mile) area largely defined through satellite "pings" and the flight's estimated fuel load.

jsm/sr/rb

Malaysia Airlines

AEROSPACE
France and Germany announce new joint fighter program
Washington (UPI) Jul 14, 2017
France and Germnay announced they are planning to develop a new joint fighter plane following a French-German cabinet meeting Thrusday. French president Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced the plan at a news conference following the meeting. The two leaders also confirmed their countries committment to the "Euro-drone" program and other defense and economic pro ... read more

Related Links
Aerospace News at SpaceMart.com

Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

AEROSPACE
US successfully tests missile intercept system

S. Korea speeds up US missile defence over North's missile test

Arleigh Burke-class destroyer Ralph Johnson completes builders trials

Yemeni rebel missile shot down near Mecca: Arab coalition

AEROSPACE
Lockheed receives $161.4M ATACMS missile life-extension contract

Pentagon alarm over Turkey plan to buy Russian missiles

Lockheed demos deck-launched variant of LRASM

Iran rules out halt to missile tests as tension with US rises

AEROSPACE
Mobile force protection aims to thwart adversaries' small UAVs and Drones

Northrop Grumman receives contract for MQ-4C Triton surveillance UAVs

The flying kettle

Insitu receives contract for Afghan ScanEagle UAS services

AEROSPACE
82nd Airborne tests in-flight communication system for paratroopers

North Dakota UAS Training Center Depends on IGC Satellite Connectivity

Army orders Falcon III HMS radios from Harris

SES Government Solutions lands additional MEO Beam task order with DoD

AEROSPACE
LOC Performance receives $49.1 million Bradley upgrade contract

Blast at rebel Georgian arms depot injures 50: Russia media

Canadian armed forces to receive new machine guns

Slovakia deploys Saab's Carl-Gustaf M4 weapon

AEROSPACE
DOD's acquisition, technology and logistics office to get a makeover

BAE plans defense hub in Australia; as group profits soar

Japan's scandal-hit defence chief resigns

GAO report details sting operation that defrauded DOD surplus program for police

AEROSPACE
On third MH17 anniversary, families unveil 'living memorial'

China scores diplomatic coup in sea row

Wintershall warns U.S. against playing 'geopolitical football.'

China unmoved as Trump rails over North Korea

AEROSPACE
New method promises easier nanoscale manufacturing

Nanoparticles could spur better LEDs, invisibility cloaks

New material resembling a metal nanosponge could reduce computer energy consumption

How do you build a metal nanoparticle?